NEWS: Fertile land as a strategic resource at risk: mining as a growing treat in Serbia

In public discourse, mining has been increasingly promoted as a major opportunity by decision makers in the Republic of Serbia. One of the most intriguing projects, which caught the attention of nearly everyone in the country, is the announced lithium mine in the Jadar River Valley (Western Serbia). A fascinating fact related to this mine is its location, which is one of the first cases in the world where lithium extraction is planned in a populated, fertile agricultural region (Đorđević et al., 2024) between two flooding rivers. Usually, exploitation of lithium is conducted from deposits located in remote/desert areas, while the Rio Tinto lithium mine in Serbia threatens to be opened in a populated and agriculturally important region which produces over 70 million euros in agricultural yields annualy, including 22 villages, over 2000 ha of arable land, and 19, 000 inhabitants!
Another worrisome aspect is the exploitation process, which is considered a dirty technology that requires the application of large quantities of chemicals in a region with substantial reserves of drinking groundwater. A new level of concern is related to the disposal of waste (tailings and wastewater) that would contain high levels of boron, arsenic, and other toxic substances.
The pro-mine representatives emphasise lithium as a crucial row for batteries used in green technologies, highlighting the potential economic benefits of this project. The demand is rising, and the Jadar deposit has been estimated as large enough, potentially, to supply a large share of Europe’s lithium needs. Conversely, we must be aware that long-term food security and sustainable development rely on top-priority resources, such as soil and water, and these must not be compromised by policy measures aimed at addressing lithium shortages.

However, informing the public about environmental risks related to lithium mining in Jadar resulted in enormous resistance, and more than 60% of Serbian citizens oppose the project. Currently, the project is on standby, while Serbian citizens are determined to preserve their land, water, and homes, arguing that cancellation of the project is the only rational option.

https://marssadrine.org/informacija-o-projektu-jadar/

Đorđević, D., Tadić, J.M., Grgur, B. et al. The influence of exploration activities of a potential lithium mine to the environment in Western Serbia. Sci Rep 14, 17090 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-68072-9